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The Riigikogu is the parliament of Estonia. Its 101 members are elected at general elections for a term of four years. The Riigikogu passes laws and resolutions, exercises parliamentary supervision and ratifies international agreements.

The Riigikogu has 11 standing commitees and 6 select committees. Commitees of investigation and study committees are formed to investigate issues of public interest or problems of significant imprtance.

The first reading of the Estonian-Russian state border treaties will take place on 25 November

12.11.2015 / Press releases, Foreign Affairs Committee

The Foreign Affairs Committee decided to send the Bill on the Ratification of the Estonian-Russian State Border Treaties (108 SE) to the first reading at the 25 November plenary sitting, and moved to conclude the first reading of the Bill.

The report of the Committee will be presented by its Chairman Sven Mikser. The Committee proposed that motions to amend be submitted within ten working days after the conclusion of the first reading of the Bill.

The Committee carried out two votes. Four members of the Committee voted in favour of the first reading taking place on 25 November, and two members voted against. Four members of the Committee also voted in favour of concluding the first reading and two member voted against.

Mikser expressed his joy that most of the Committee supported the sending of the Bill on the State Border Treaties to the first reading at the plenary assembly. In his opinion, the fact that the state borders have been agreed bilaterally and that the parliament has ratified the treaties will serve the best interests of Estonia. “As you know, the Bill on the Ratification of the Estonian-Russian State Border Treaties needs the two-thirds majority of the parliament and I am convinced that the parliament has that majority,” Mikser said.

Member of the Committee Henn Põlluaas believes that the Treaties are unnecessary because they are detrimental to Estonia’s interests, and he is against ratifying these.

Minister of the Interior Hanno Pevkur reported to the Committee on developing the external border of the European Union. He saw this as a long process but felt hopeful that the technical constructions would be completed by the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

According to Pevkur, 71 % of the control line has been cleared and 59 % milled. EUR 3.2 million has been set aside for constructing the border from this year’s budget and EUR 20 million from the next year’s budget.